Excellent! Food was amazing and filled with flavor, very authentic French dishes, service was great and our server took really good care of us. Interior of the place was not very French, more modern American style. Not many entrees options so we picked a few extra appetizers. Overall it was a great experience. read more

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Drinks selection - really good! I had an almond vodka mix that was one of the best mixes I've ever had. They also have a large selection of wine, most if not all, grown by themselves. Food - great! A lovely treat but not the greatest in my opinion. Steak is chewy, pate is a little too solid, but everything is FLAVORFUL. We came here for Mother's Day and they had a special wine and oyster event. I would assume they have more seating on normal days because there were about 5 tables inside and 4 small tables outside, and the bar and other open spaces were too packed. read more

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Came here for dinner. I took French in junior high and our teacher, Madame Brusueel took the time to write the lunch menu in French. I still remember most of the French words. Started out with French bread and butter of course. St. Jacque scallops. There used to be a French restaurant in the University district, that I first tried these. This version was a close replica of the delicious scallops I remember. I also ordered the escargot. The buttery garlic sauce compliments the slightly salty snail. I would usually order cassoulet when it is offered on a menu. A labor intensive dish. Ordered the cabillaud à la normande instead. The cider sauce compliments the fish in a great harmony. Mushrooms and fish dishes are so good to me. Ordered my .favorite, mousse au chocolate for dessert. Strong chocolate flavor in a light mousse. Really nice meal read more

Save yourself of a trip to Paris. This place has the trifecta of ambiance, food and service, plus the PNW fresh seafood like oysters and uni. You're welcome. read more

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Fun atmosphere. Friendly staff. Excellent wine. Good food. Highly recommend. We enjoyed the Thon (raw tuna), escargot, black cod and Coq Au Vin. Terrific flavors! read more

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Did you know that L'Oursin is sea urchin or uni in French? That's what this place serves local and fresh straight out of the shell! I came here for my birthday several weeks ago with my husband and made reservations around 6pm for 2. Parking was easy to find on the street and free! The restaurant wasn't very busy at 6pm, but around 9pm when we left, it was bumping! Super lively and all the tables were full (even for a non-weekend date). We tried a little bit of everything on the menu. We got the bread basket, local/fresh uni, beef tartare, st Jacques scallops, ris de veau (sweetbread), gnocchi Parisienne, 2 different cocktails and then a bottle of orange wine. The cocktails were nice and well balanced - my husband loved his and the menu is adorable! The orange wine was nice too and the waiter actually let us try some before committing to the full bottle. My favorite food items were definitely the gnocchi and uni (caught locally in Washignton)! My husband's favorite was probably the scallops and beef tartare (good portion size). The bread was not my favorite - not warm and tasted a bit stale? But it was nice to have some extra carbs for the beef to eat a long with. Overall a great experience! The restaurant is not "quiet" by any means for a romantic French spot in Capitol Hill. I would say it's a good in-between for nice meal but not white-table-cloth. I like how it was still casual enough to not feel like you're breaking the bank but also refined food and a good assortment to try from. We paid a little over $200 before tax and tip for the 2 of us. Would definitely come again and highly recommend for a special occasion. Even if it's not a special occasion, it's a great French restaurant to experience. read more

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Came here from a recommendation that if you want to try seattle cuisine, eat here. The thinking is because what defines seattle cuisine are the local seasonal ingredients. Coming here, I can definitely see what they meant. We had the gambo, foi gras, scallops, beef tartar, bread, and smelt. The seafood all tasted very fresh and I enjoyed them the most. The scallops were dressed with the lemon thyme sauce that made it very acidic (kind of like ceviche) and it was good. Maybe a little too acidic for me as I want to appreciate the taste of the scallop more. The gambo was delicious and then you pair that with the bread we ordered and what a great combo. The beef tartar and foie gras were things I'd probably skip next time. The beef was chopped and diced and didn't seem to really pop due to the dressing. I like my tar tar to feel more like beef, either through taste or texture. The foie gras...wasn't really foie gras that you'd expect and it was more of a patte. As a patte it was good, but that's not what I was looking for. Maybe I just didn't understand the menu item though and it was a bit misleading. Overall my recommendation is to come here and try the appetizers and lean off of the mains and enjoy the variety! read more

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We hosted a birthday party for a few friends. The restaurant picked the menu and wines. It was fantastic. The wines were not ones that I would normally pick, but they all paired well with each course. One of our guests gagged at the thought of tartare. But, he tried it and went back for more. The crudo and salad course was amazing. I've never had geoduck before. Loved the chance to try it. L'oursin feels like a neighborhood gem where you can go by yourself or with friends, dressed up, or as you are. Just let the team creating the menu and paring wines, guide you. read more

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Cool little French bistro that uses Northwest ingredients. It has a warm, inviting atmosphere - casual, but classy. The offer a nice-looking wine and cocktail list, with a notable selection of Armagnac, if that's your thing. The flétan à la marseillaise (poached halibut) comes with a tasty rockfish sauce, shrimp, and scallops. While not cheap (halibut never is), it's a good amount of quality seafood for the price. The service at the bar was friendly, with the bartenders offering some good suggestions. read more

L'Oursin - Flétan à la Marseillasise (poached Halibut) - French Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I came into town to visit a friend and she asked what kind of food they like. I said I love French , as I quite often go to French food locally back home. I have to say this was the worst experience I've ever had. The duck was extremely dry. The beverage choice was very limited. And the way they brought the entrées out so quickly gave me the sneaking impression that it might have been reheated. Highly discourage people from ordering the duck if you go to this place. The menu is limited. The choices are limited, and the food was overcooked and dry. read more

We had a lovely dinner at the bar in L'Oursin last night. The menu was unique, but still classique. Our dishes reflected this eclectic style, as we dined on Veau Tonné, Terrine de Foie Gras, Black Cod, Steak frites and a large delectable Crème Brûlée for dessert. Everything was very good, if not delicious. There was no misses, and we had a wonderful meal. L'Oursin is designed beautifully, very Francais, s'il vous plaît. I also tested the mixology skills of our bartenders/servers Zachary and Tommy, and they both are at the very top of their field, meeting my needs perfectly. The only shock was the price, as Seattle's expense continues to wow me. Our meal, with three cocktails, two glasses of white wine, and the 20% tip included in the bill came to $242.11. That's a lot of moolah, anywhere. I understand the cost of living in Seattle is ludicrous, and we pay for living in such a beautiful city. Yet, Seattle isn't New York, but the costs are certainly coming close. Something has to give, unless this city wants to cater solely to the upper class, ignoring cultural diversity. With prices like this, someone my age who isn't a billionaire, can't go out much. That's a shame. read more

Good if you've never been to New York--otherwise, you've had better. Too expensive for jeans and t-shirt

We got the special, a butter burger, very good. Cocktails were exceptional. But honestly the best part was the bread, first item on the menu. We sat outside, which was extremely pleasant. read more

Came here because of the new Amex credit and wanted to try something new. My steak frites came out cold and the bread and butter came with very little butter. Ran out of water and was not replaced. Meal came ~10 mins before drinks. read more

Unfortunately not worth the price. $250 for two, food was disappointing, service was not to the level that should be expected at that price point. If you're the type to notice a $250 dinner on your credit card bill, this is not the place for you. read more

I had a lovely dinner with my husband at L'Oursin. The ambiance is relaxed, charming, and perfect for a romantic dinner. The service was good - our waitress did a good job suggesting wine to pair with our meal. The food was super delicious. We had oysters, bread, salad, vol au vent, mousse, and crème brûlée. All perfectly executed! read more

L'Oursin - Vol au vent with a perfectly paired glass of wine! - French Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Fab! They were booked on a Wed but we were able to sit at bar. Food/drinks: Yum! Gambas à l'ail (garlick shrimp) was 4 delicious shrimp with so much garlic. Steak frites was well executed; fries are legit and sauce was excellent. Beware that steak is medium and they didn't ask our preference. Bergamot tonic was just as good as any cocktail but sans alcohol. Service: We sat at the bar since they were fully reserved for the eve. Service was great when we had their attention; getting their attention want always straightforward. Ambiance: Cute. It was pretty unassuming did the quality you get. Adding to my list for sure. read more

I have some friends that had been here a few months ago and loved it so much they wanted to go again. Their computer system went down and they gave everyone a heads up saying payment would have to be cash or venmo. They gave the option of rescheduling which was nice. My friend and I got there a little early before the third person arrived so we had a drink at the bar. The staff at the bar were friendly and helpful. Their cocktail menu has a light alcohol side and a stronger side which I thought was nice. We ended up having the same server as the one my friends had before which was a nice surprise-for them. We ordered a number of dishes to share. They knew they wanted the foie gras and scallops. We also had the calamari, grilled sturgeon, duck cause they missed out on it last time and wrapped up with the crème brûlé. Everything was prepared excellently and beautifully presented. The flavors were so well balanced. I thought being French food it would be heavy but wasn't. Our favorite was the raw scallop dish so bright it came right after our foie gras which was the perfect order. The staff operated seamlessly you think without their system it would have been a struggle for not only the servers but especially the kitchen. You would not have known the computer system was down at all. The owner was there helping to accept venmo payments and was kind enough to take a pic for us. The space is welcoming and warm. You would feel as comfortable snacking at the bar as you would at a table. read more

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Came here from a recommendation of a friend and it did not disappoint! Started off with a French old fashion recommended by our waiter and omg was it strong and tasty! If there's one thing to get, it's the tartare! The tartare was definitely the highlight of our dishes and packed so much flavor. We also really enjoyed the albacore tuna and duck confit dish. Service was great as well, food came out fast! The accompaniments for our main dishes were a bit too salty where we couldn't finish it which was a shame. Overall we enjoyed this place a lot and would definitely come back! read more

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Overall I had a nice experience at L'Oursin. The place was fairly quiet on a Monday evening. I snagged a parking spot on the street right out front, which was a huge win in my book. There are several unique cocktail options, which made it pleasantly difficult to decide. I ended up going with the drink that correlates with The Hall (Le Hall) from the game Clue. La Chanteuse de Telegramme ($16)--essentially sparkling wine flavored with blackcurrant liqueur served in a flute, I believe. Cassis, Angostura bitters, and Cremant de Jura were involved, among a couple other ingredients. It was tasty, although I'd probably try something else next time since there are a lot of intriguing options. I also had a sip of the Mrs. White cocktail aka Madame Blanche ($18), which includes pineapple Cognac, pastis, oregeat, herbes de Provence, lime, cream, and soda. It was more on the savory side, plus light and refreshing. If you don't like anise/fennel/black licorice choose something else! I did prefer Le Hall. There were not many plant-based options but our server recommended pairing one of the green salads (minus the cheese) with the lentil, leek, mushroom side dish. Both were more flavorful and delicious than expected! I think most vegans would be satisfied enough. Maybe throw some fries in there for good measure if you're extra hungry. The interior was pleasant, my bum did start to go a little numb after a bit. I'd happily come back if a friend/date/family member wanted to dine at L'Oursin in the future. It is a bit pricey though, around $65 for one cocktail, a salad, and a side dish, so be aware of that! Tip is already included in the bill. read more

Second visit; went for my birthday and food did not disappoint. The raw scallops were amazing (as noted by other reviewers). Also the raw tuna and chick pea fritters. I had the black cod which was very good. The remaining entrees were French onion soup and fries!!! Ha ha. Would return a third time!!! read more

I've been to L'Oursin at least 3 times, mostly to grab a drink. But on our most recent visit, we had dinner (at the bar, of course - so we can see all the activity in the open kitchen). And it has easily become one of my favorite haunts! The menu changes, so you may not see the same items every time. We did miss out on the sea urchin (which is why we came through for dinner, but alas they were out of season), however we were not disappointed at all. We ordered duck drummettes (I'm always a sucker for duck), Alaskan scallops, Leek vinaigrette, Spot Prawns, and Rockfish schnitzel. Yes we were hungry... The duck was delicously smoky. The Alaskan scallops were topped with proscuitto (which was a welcome mix of flavors). The Leek vinaigrette, holy hell - can food be this transcendent?! It included smoked steelhead roe, Dungeness crab, and grain mustard which tied it all together. None of the flavors fought with each other, instead it purely complimenatry!!! The spot prawns were delicate. We also got a bonus spot prawns broth (made with it's head and shells) - I was in pure heaven!!! And the rockfish schnitzel was breaded and fried ever so perfectly. The staff and service are phenomenal!!! I can't wait to return!!! read more

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Oh. My. God. Why have I been sleeping on this gem? I am obsessed with everything about this place!!! From the absinthe water dripper to their decor - I felt immediately transported back to a brasserie in Paris. Started with foie gras, thon sauce vierge (raw tuna salad), friture (fried smelt) and some lovely white wine... I can't describe how delish each dish was and you'll just have to try it for yourself. I could have probably eaten my weight in the friture - how is it so crispy on the outside and perfectly soft and cooked on the inside? Mind. Blown. Good lord. Foie? Oh so foie'ing good. Thon sauce vierge was perfectly refreshing a great dish to break up the heaviness with foie and smelt. Also tried the steak frites were so lovely but was getting pretty full at this point and after some absinthe, it was the perfect way to round out the meal. Seriously, if you are craving a brasserie style meal - look no further. Funnily enough, I didn't spot any urchin on the menu but maybe they bring it if in season. I'll be back and report in. read more

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I loved my experience here. The service and ambiance is top. The food is exceptional with my favorites being the steak frites and the Cassoulet. Will be returning for more. One comment I do have is the Escargot has a citrus flavor that I really doesn't work. As someone who is French, I was really disappointed by the Escargot. Seems like they are trying too hard but flavors don't work on this. Everything else was phenomenal. read more

This location has quickly become my favorite spot for just about every occasion. I don't often write reviews but L'oursin has been consistently exceptional. The food is flavorful, creative with its spins on traditional French dishes and their execution of the escargot and the French soup is PHENOMENAL. It's perfectly salted, the texture is amazing and I consistently come back for these two dishes. Everyone that I've had the pleasure of being served by has been so unbelievably kind, knowledgeable about the menu and wine pairings which is so rare these days. Our recent server who's name I cannot remember, coursed our meal to perfection and offered great recommendations for cocktails/ wine that would pair with each dish. The space of course is my favorite part about dining here as it balances casual fine dining so well. There's truly not a bad seat in the entire restaurant. Thank you L'Oursin and team for being one of the best spots in Seattle!! read more

Tartare was so fresh and refreshing! Tuna tartare was a perfect pairing of the fresh tuna, grilled asparagus and flavorful sauce! French onion soup has very meaty stock and sweet. Missing picture but the fresh baguette was read more

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I never have an actually French food before . There is something that I don't really like but I promise myself to give 5 start for every where unless that place pretty real bad lol The beef Tatar have a smell like old meat but I realize it's might from the beef fat (I personally don't like doesn't mean it's not good ok!) I order something with a duck and pork belly in there, I forgot the name. I don't know how they cook that pork belly to that amazing texture, it was crispy, juicy and hella yummy. The bread and butter and the prunes ice cream was super good here. read more

This restaurant was really great! The prices were pretty reasonable and the ambiance was perfect. Felt more like a French cafe vibes. Here's what we got: 1. Radishes appetizer 3/5 It was tasty but the portion was very tiny 2. Raw Scallops 4/5 Scallops were great and the portion size was pretty decent for an appetizer like dish. Could use a little more flavour. 3. Steak Frites 5/5 This was all around just delicious steak and fries 4. Salmon 5/5 Everything on the plate was amazing and the salmon was perfectly crisp 5. Consommé En Croûte 5/5 This was a lovely vegetarian dish that was very impressive looking. Only thing to be cautious about is that it's fairly hot and needs to be cooled. The restaurant has a nice list of non alcoholic drinks as well which were all lovely. read more

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We had a special location so we came here and had the five course meal. We started with a couple of French 75's and requested a bottle of the rose. We did order a dozen oysters but they didn't come after the first two courses, so we cancel that and just stayed on course with what was happening with the Degustation (5 course of 7 course meal, chef's choice). What we appreciated was that one of us at the table was a vegetarian so to order the five course meal experience everyone at the table had to Byam. The kitchen was willing to create a different vegetarian option for vegetarian diner. The opening amuse bouche was tasty a garlic and heirloom tomato toast. The next course was utterly delicious a tuna sashimi in a version of salad that included cucumbers and gooseberries (minus the tuna for the vegetarian option). Wonderful use of gooseberries. But what really impressed us was the broccoli soup which had Dill flowers and creme fraiche. Absolutely wonderful to have the dill flowers brighten up the broccoli and have the cream's slight tang enhance the fullness of the flavor. The frisée salad with lentils that followed was disappointing for me bc dressing on the frisée was too salty and too vinegary. And I love both vinegar and salt. Also I found the lentils not to my liking under such a fresh dish: but my table mate, who is a vegetarian, really liked her lentils and frise. We had a second bottle of wine pictured below and it indicated that the grapes came from 100-year-old fine. That was appealing. Alas, it was a bit metallic for our liking. Regrettable. The halibut was perfectly made for the second-to-last course. Because we ordered the bottle of red, and felt it needed some help, before accepting the dessert course we decided to ask for some cheese with which to enjoy the red. What arrived with a much appreciated triple cream with some excellent bread and fresh currants. It really was the perfect intermediary before dessert. Dessert was a chilled peanut butter square with a side of banana ice cream. read more

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I absolutely love this restaurant! We will definitely return. We loved Everything but my favorite was the salmon pate with radish and ikura (salmon egg roe) read more

L'Oursin - Salmon pate - French Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Came here on recommendation from husband's coworker. It's a quaint little place, with nice lighting and ambience. The menu is quaint also. Being seated near the front door was not ideal. Every time the door opened we got a pretty good gush of cold air. Our server was very nice, and the food was pretty good. I did like the wine I tried a lot. Not sure I'd want to return, but it was an ok experience. Pricy, for sure. read more

this was a great experience. we came for a weeknight dinner, and had a lot of fun. the server was very knowledgeable about the menu - cocktails, wine and food. it is set very much like a French cafe - with the window s open, it was a nice breeze. the full experience was very much like being in france for the evening :) highly recommend read more

L'Oursin - chicken - French Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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LOVE this place as a place to indulge in alcohol-free beverages! Not only were Le Bergamot and Gingembre stellar in terms of their taste profiles, but bartender Tamsyn gave me pointers on creating my own mocktails, without resorting to often-overpriced (IMO) alcohol-free spirits currently on the market. Thanks to Eater Seattle for recommending this spot! Excited to return for more NA drinks, and to test out their food menu next time too! #afdrinks #mocktails read more

We went to L'Oursin and had a very good meal. It was almost $500 for 4 people, with 3 individual glasses of wine as well as a bottle. So liquor was a large part of the bill. The escargo, salad, beef tartare were excellent. All in all an excellent and fun dinner. Two things to be aware of: 1) When the waitress presented the specials, she failed to note the prices and unfortunately we didn't ask. Entrees here run $45 so we expected the same, but when the bill came back the soul my wife ordered was $95. We would not have ordered that dish had we know. 2) We asked for a bit more butter and didn't think more it until the bill revealed we were charged $3! To me this felt cheap given the rather high end nature of this restaurant. 3) Finally, the waitress did ask if it was a special occasion, which we told her it was - my wife's birthday. A candle came with dessert but not free dessert, as I've found to be typical and appreciated in most restaurants. All in all really liked the food but there could have been more transparency re: prices and they could have done a couple small things to really earn some great customer appreciation. Missed opportunity on the restaurants part. read more

One of the best meals I've had in a very long time. The entire experience was incredible start to finish. The cocktails and natural wine selection were a wonderful additive to the meal. I sat at the bar and enjoyed the company of those around me as well as the lovely bartenders (who made sure I was not without a beverage at all times. 10/10 service!) I made friends with a girl who was also eating alone and we shared the desserts. All around amazing meal with wonderful humans. Do recommend. read more

Wonderful people, delicious food, and fantastic wine. Bar Bayonne next door is also phenomenal.

Oysters and foie gras terrine were exceptional. Bread & butter very good, as were the snails and the beef tartare. The onion soup was WAY TOO SALTY, and also heavily laden with bread such that it was difficult to eat. For a $20 soup I expected perfection, but it was definitely not. The waitress accommodated my request to bring a bit of apple brandy so we could try to tone down the intense saltiness, but unfortunately that didn't really work to save the most expensive onion soup I've ever had. We subtly hinted at sending it back but the waitress's response was that basically it could not be done because the entire pot was pre-made. For $20.....? Non-starter for someone who has had many onion soups over the years and who has made it at home successfully several times. And $20 for onions/butter/stock/salt/brandy is a rip-off. The Chocolate mousse was also too salty. Service - while we are supportive of the service economy, the mandatory 20% service charge comes with expectations. Not once did they come around to top up our wine glasses, and not once did anyone offer me a new napkin after mine hit the floor. For 2.5 people our bill was $236, including my bringing our own bottle of wine, but I do not feel like we got full value from that amount of money. I'm kinda feeling like we should have added another $50 and just gone to a really nice steak place instead. read more

L'Oursin is an excellent French restaurant in Capitol Hill. The decor is pleasant and modern. We decided to order the tasting menu with matching wine (if one person at table orders it both must--the tasting menu seemed to match items on main menu). Before the tasting menu started, we were brought some foie gras on toast that was nice. The first course was raw scallops and mushrooms matched with a sauvignon blanc. The scallops were excellent and seasoned perfectly. I was not sure how the mushrooms would be, but they were a great complement. Next was swede (rutabaga) and cauliflower soup. This was rich and wonderful--I was ready to order a big giant bowl of it. What was interesting was that this was matched win an Apple Cidar--which I had never seen in a tasting menu--but turned out to be a really inspired choice. Next was grilled tuna and more mushrooms. The tuna was super fresh and seared just right--while the cream sauce and mushrooms were just out of this world delicious. The wine was from a French grape I had not heard of--cinsault--and again really good. The next course was salmon and matzo balls in a chicken broth. As with other courses, the fish was divine--they do a tremendous job picking great seafood. The matzo ball was unusual, but again matched up really well in the dish. The wine was a French merlot was that really nice. The dessert was iced milk and sorbet and was a fitting finish to a fantastic meal. read more

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Beautiful, elegant, airy - très français. Enjoyed a wonderful degustation. 4.5-star ambiance, 4-star service, 3.5-star dishes. Fantastic seafood, albeit a few misses. DISHES - Smoke sturgeon corn soup - tasty, but ham was too salty, overwhelming the soup and creme fraiche + Scallops - favorite course. Impossibly fresh, sweet Alaska scallops, perfectly garnished with Mexican mouse melons, pea sprouts + Coho salmon - lusciously poached with cherry tomato, tomatillo, lobster mushrooms - Smelt with lardons, chicory, grilled Asian pear - a bit heavy-handed on the lardons, not paired well with smelt - salty, heavy + Chanterelle custard with dungeness crab - delicate, refreshing, modern take on a nostalgic favorite (chawanmushi) - Plums, thyme ice cream, vanilla olive oil - couldn't really taste the thyme (tasted like vanilla ice cream), a bit drenched in olive oil SERVICE Loved our dinner server - attentive, professional, friendly. Proper introduction of dinner dishes and provided helpful beverage recommendations. AMBIANCE Warm, well-lit, cozy - perfect for date night or small dinner parties. Volume is low without being dead. The bar is gleaming and gorgeous - will back for drinks. Airy, charming front patio ideal for summer nights. PRICING Dinner degustation is a steal, priced at $65. A la carte pricing might be steep, as portions are small per prior reviews. read more

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Friendly staff but a mediocre experience. Fabulous French onion soup, but the rest of the dishes we ate were incredibly mediocre. Steak Frites were flavorful but incredibly tough and the beef tartare disappointing. I wanted to love this little local place, but invariably the mediocre ambience, closely spaced tables and poor execution of the food. Leave this to be a place that you should pass upon. Price point is not worth the spend sadly read more